In the 21^st century, government knows it does not need to beat people bloody in front of cameras to destroy their lives. First, it’s very bad press. Second, it is unnecessary. Government need only make laws so unjust and lacking in due process, that people cannot defend themselves.

The citizens of the U.S. can learn a lesson from Canada’s recent use of its Emergencies Act. During the truckers’ protest in Canada, Prime Minister Trudeau invoked the  1988 Emergencies Act, claiming the protest is an illegal blockade endangering public safety. The Act is to be used in situations that “seriously endangers the lives, health or safety of Canadians.” The types of situations it is to address include espionage, foreign influence activities, serious threats of political violence, or acts intended to undermine or overthrow a constitutionally established government. None of these situations apply to peaceful protests whose offense is blocking streets and making noise.

The Emergencies Act allows the government to force banks to freeze the social media accounts that collect money to support the protesters, freeze the bank accounts of the protesters, seize their [300] trucks, revoke their driver’s licenses, deny them insurance on their trucks, and of imprisoning them for years. It also authorizes the government to deny citizens the right to assemble and prohibit travel in certain areas of the country.  By cutting off the ability of truckers to make a living, Trudeau is executing their ability to live a normal life. Trudeau was the first prime minister in the thirty-four years since its enactment, to invoke the Emergencies Act. Trudeau finds peaceful resistance to be so extreme as to be a threat to the state.

In the U.S., our federal government does everything “bigger and better” than any other country. If at any time, the president of the U.S. feels, thinks, or worries about an emergency, he has the power to declare it through an emergency proclamation. While the U.S. has only one law designated “National Emergencies,” NYU’s Brennan Center identifies 136 laws or other authorities that allow the president to establish a national emergency. Ninety-six of these laws require nothing more than the signature of the president on an emergency proclamation. Fifteen of these emergency laws have restrictions such as involving a specific subject matter or the need for armed forces. Only thirteen of these emergency laws require a congressional declaration of emergency.

These 136 emergency laws are part of a massive legal framework that contains over 3000 separate criminal offenses in 50 titles of the U.S. Code and 23,000 pages of federal law and over 200,000 regulations that have the same effect as a law. More troublesome, the National Emergencies Act “…does not define what constitutes a national emergency.”

Without a legal definition, determining the statutory meaning of the term falls into the common meaning found in a dictionary. Merriam Webster defines a national emergency as “a state of emergency (an unforeseen circumstance needing immediate action) resulting from a danger or threat of danger to a nation from foreign or domestic sources and usually declared to be in existence by a governmental authority.” A very subjective definition.

Historically, emergency powers were limited to wartime. But today, non-war-time presidents want war powers to control citizens in a domestic setting. The Covid pandemic is the most recent use of emergency powers. Relying on emergency public health powers, the federal government-imposed mask and vaccine requirements on the nation’s entire population while keeping the science supporting its proclamation secret. It locked up the entire nation for almost two years. Another recent example, on inauguration day, Joe Biden, without the involvement of Congress, terminated all authorities requiring the construction of the Southern border wall which was being built to keep drug cartels, sex traffickers, and criminals out of the U.S.

The troubling use of both proclamations is that they were invoked without any direct factual findings to support the actions of the government. The public health emergency law referenced a waiver of liability law for those assisting the federal government address Covid, i.e., protecting the pharmaceutical companies from being sued. As for revoking authority to construct the Southern border wall, president Biden proclaimed the wall “is not a serious policy solution.” So much for the rule of law.

The only requirement to implement emergency power is that the president must specify the provision of law under which he will act. The provision cited does not need to relate to the actions taken.

The emergency law terminates on the anniversary of its declaration unless the President notifies Congress of its continuation. The other option for terminating an emergency is for Congress, by joint resolution to terminate it. Since joint resolutions must be signed by the president, Congress needs a two-thirds majority to override a presidential veto. Otherwise, these emergency powers are continuously available to the president. President Biden has stated he will veto any repeal of the Covid emergency powers.

In addition to health emergencies and the Southern border wall, other powers available to the president include the ability to control airports, industrial facilities, and any device capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation, i.e., our communications system. The authority most used is the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”). It authorizes the president to invoke emergency powers relating to U.S. national security, foreign policy, or the economy, including financial and commercial transactions. Sanctions can be imposed on individuals as well as countries, including the freezing of bank accounts and the seizure of assets. While there is a requirement that the threat is related to an activity in whole or part outside of the U.S., it is easy for a president to assert a foreign connection merely by accusation. The IEEPA has been invoked 55 times.

Literally, Congress, through the enactment of the National Emergencies Act, gives presidents the ability to convert our Republic into an authoritarian state. Unless Congress limits the use of such powers to foreign situations, it is only a matter of time until these emergency powers are invoked to create an authoritarian state.

The post Emergency Laws Can Convert a Republic into an Authoritarian State appeared first on The Libertarian Republic.

None of the articles, however, addressed how the crisis will permanently change government.

What is very clear – the era of massive government power and spending is just beginning.

First, let’s be real. Those most in need must be given federal financial assistance. They will get some, but if the crisis continues for months, what happens is anyone’s guess.

If the last few decades are illustrative, there will be large infusions of federal cash; e.g. savings & loan crisis (mid 1980s), 9/11(2001), Katrina (2005), auto and bank bailouts (2008-09).  Massive amounts of federal money will flow to the “Giants of Capitalism” who suddenly become “Champions of Socialism” when opportunity arises.

The one constant in every crisis – big business is first in line for the money. The coronavirus crisis is no different. Manufacturing is asking for $1.4 trillion in loans. Restaurants are asking for $325 billion; airlines for $150 billion; hospitals $100 billion and even museums want $4 billion. Boeing is asking for a $60 billion bailout on top of it receiving 40% of all federal Ex-Im bank subsidies.

Keep in mind, two years ago these same industries received massive tax relief and operated in an extremely low interest rate environment. In the third quarter of 2019, corporations made $2.8 trillion in profits. During that 2018-2019 time period, corporate quarterly profits averaged $1.89 trillion; totaling about $16 trillion for the two years. Unfortunately, this tax relief and easy credit, and stock buybacks all “… allowed companies across the board to borrow big, building a record $10 trillion mountain of debt.” A Bank of American study found the stock buy-backs by S&P companies totaled $2.7 trillion, while their debt rose $2.5 trillion.

To address coronavirus, Congress put together the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act,” (“CARES”), a $2 trillion package of direct checks to households, extended unemployment compensation and grants to state and local governments.

Business also did very well; a $425 billion loan fund to be allocated by Treasury, $75 billion for specific industries, $100 billion for hospitals, and a to be determined small business emergency loan fund, with forgivable loans, for pledges of not laying off workers. Additionally, to ensure corporate liquidity, the Federal Reserve announced it will expand, without limit, its purchase of corporate bonds, Treasury and mortgage securities.

A massive funding package of unknown value!

From the numbers, the immediate winner is Big Business. The government will give it the money needed to replenish its coffers from its wild borrowing, buyback and bonus spree. The long-term winner, however, at least until the next crisis, will be government. It will control more of business operations, personal lives and national resources.

Big business always needs more money for management and to increase stock prices for larger bonuses. The government always wants more power. That is the deal. They both get what they want.

Expanded Presidential Powers Will Never Be Relinquished

Article II of the U.S. Constitution does not grant the President any emergency powers. Notwithstanding scholarly arguments of implied powers, Congress has given massive emergency powers to the President through the National Emergencies Act of 1976, the Defense Production Act of 1950 and the War Powers Act of 1973.

Under the Emergencies Act, once the President declares an “national emergency” he activates 136 congressionally sanctioned provisions allowing him to control the activities of the American people, including internet communications, gatherings, domestic unrest, and spying.

Under the Defense Production Act, the President, for national defense purposes, can force business into mandated production and supply activities; allocate materials and services; control the civilian economy, implement wage and price controls, and control credit.

Under the War Powers Act, Congress grants the President, in the absence of a Declaration of War, power to use force where imminent involvement of hostilities is indicated by circumstances.

While these laws place time limits and reporting requirements on the President, such requirements are generally ignored. Moreover, these powers are frequently used. The Emergency Act has been invoked for 60 national emergencies. The Defense Production Act was invoked in the Korean war; the Cold war; to impose disclosure requirements on telecommunication companies purchasing foreign equipment; mandates issued to produce certain technologies; and President Trump invoked it for the coronavirus crisis but has not implemented it.

As to War Powers, the nation has been in a continuous, undeclared war for 18 years.

These massive powers allow the president to control society by merely claiming an emergency exists or our troops are at risk. It is unlikely a President would voluntarily relinquish such powers. Unfortunately, Congress cannot reclaim them without having a super-majority of votes to override a presidential veto.  Courts may impose limits but lawsuits take time and courts have no means of enforcement.

The only question remaining is what is the excuse used by a President to take long-term, control of the nation? We may have our answer; “But Democrats want the administration to take over much more of the private economy…the federal government should ‘nationalize the medical supply chain’..”

Our New Massive Government Will Cost More than We Can Afford

Presently the national debt is $23.5 trillion; approximately $72,000 per person. This debt burden increases $3,000 per person for every trillion dollars of new debt. Before the coronavirus crisis, the Congressional Budget Office, estimated a $13 trillion increase in the debt in ten years. Now Congress is adding several trillions more to the national debt. By 2030, each person’s share of the debt will at least be $117,000.

While interest on the debt is low, debt service still cost $593 billion for 2019. If interest rates increase 1%, interest payments would be $875 billion by 2021, almost 30% of all tax collections.

We can’t afford the government we have; how can we pay for more?

Once Corporate Bailouts Are Made, Universal Health Care Will Follow

While not part of CARES, the Democrats will not allow trillions of dollars to go to large corporations without getting their share of our money for universal health care. The coronavirus establishes that our health care system is dysfunctional. Its $3.5 trillion annual cost is twice as expensive as other industrialized countries. Democrats view the cost health care system as one built on greed, inefficiency and waste. We pay $10,739 per person, annually. For universal care, Canada pays $4,351per person, Germany, $4.819, Japan, $3,713 and we still have 84 million people uninsured or under-insured.

Unfortunately, Democrats do not discuss how they will bring down costs; increase the quality of health care, establish transparency in pricing or foster competition to create a more cost-efficient, more well- run system. They merely want government control over 18% of the economy.

What Can Government Do When the Debt Crisis Arrives?

By the time the debt crisis arrives, the Fed will be purchasing worthless pieces of paper and Congress will be printing significantly devalued dollars. At that point the country will face a crisis from which there is no escape. It will be a real national emergency.

We have two options today. First, as soon as the coronavirus crisis is over, and the economy is back to some normalcy, Congress needs immediately to declare war on the national debt while it still can be managed with people working, low interest rates and assets that have value.

If Congress continues to ignore the massively accumulating national debt, this nation will suffer a debt crisis that can only be addressed through a comprehensive restructuring of the country. The restructuring will be undertaken by a government not trusted by citizens. It will involve restructuring our entire economy, banking and money supply, government, military, laws, programs, the distribution of food and supplies and requiring the sale of many assets.

The restructured “U.S.” will be a very different country. This will be the price citizens will pay for its “leaders” avoiding the debt crisis for decades.

The post How the Coronavirus Will Permanently Change Government appeared first on The Libertarian Republic.